RESUMO
Objective To investigate the potential effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) on prevention and treatment of neonatal mice infected with human rotavirus (HRV). Methods Sixty 4-day-old kunming mice were randomly divided into control group. HRV infected group, L. acidophilus pretreated group (treated before HRV infection ) and L. acidophilus treated group(treated after HRV infection). The manifestation and pathological changes in small intestine of neonatal mice were observed. The HRV antigen in the feces and intestines were measured by ELISA and fluorescent-focus assay, respectively. Results The severity and duration of diarrhea as well as mortality in L. acidophilus pretreated group and treated group were lower than those in HRV infected group. The duration of HRV-antigens shedding following infection was considerably prolonged in HRV infected group compared to that in L. acidophilus pretreated group and treated group. Furthermore, decreased expression of HRV antigen and little pathological changes in intestinal mucosa were found in L. acidophilus pretreated group and treated group when compared with HRV infected group. Conclusion L. acidophilus may be used as an alternative approach for the prevention and treatment of neonatal mice infected with HRV.